DISA Open Door Event September 24, 2019

The first ever DISA Open Door Event took place in the lovely garden of the Southern Sun Ridgeway Hotel.

We had up to ten DISA members (& some friends of members) introducing their businesses and hobbies and selling their products or services in the event.



The scene around the pool was lively with guests and members getting to know each other, browsing the products on sale, enjoying coffee, tea and cakes generously provided by the hotel, and later in the day having a bite of tasty Vietnamese food.

Most of all the event was about connecting people and making DISA more widely known in Lusaka.
We like to think we made quite a good job of it; but we couldn't have done so without the support, contributions and presence of exhibitors, guests and members. Many thanks to each of you!
And a warm welcome to all new members who joined DISA during the event.

Last but not least, our special thanks to General Manager Paul Norman and his staff at Southern Sun for all their support: the venue, the drinks and snacks, the beautiful arrangement of tables by the pool, and for the help they gave us before, during and after the event!

Welcome speech by Ines, Chairperson of DISA

All funds raised by the sales of Chau & Nathalie's Vietnamese food will be used for our charity projects

Good food makes people extremely happy!

DISA Open Door Event September 24, 2019 - Invitation

Our Open Door is just around the corner, taking place on Tuesday September 24, at Southern Sun Ridgeway Hotel!

We will be by the pool area (to the left of the hotel entrance) from 9:00 to 11:30. Just follow the happy voices!

This is a great opportunity to make our organization, our projects, activities and members more widely known in Lusaka.

Our members will introduce their businesses and hobbies, and sell their products.
Among these you will find:
Maggy's Palm View Nursery;  Vera and Mariia fromVera's DermaCare (w. facial massage demonstrations);
Rumman's Arty Wellness Centre; Kala's Travel Tech Ltd. and Molly's Voyager;

Joan's Kabulonga Garden Centre, w. Garden Accessories and plants;
Sanjeevani's Satara Sparkles jewelry;
Daniël is bringing her decorative boxes covered in African wax prints; Debbie is showcasing her hobby with crocheted toys and blankets & Chau her passion for Vietnamese food!

For this event we also partnered with other businesses which will have their tables set up and items ready for sale. We are happy to welcome:
Africa Blue Company; clothes and all things lovely
Mupapa Wood; wooden articles
Melinda Schooling; clothes
Kumbirai Makunike;  shoes, bags and costume jewelry

And, of course, there will be a DISA table with:
Tickets to our main annual fundraiser the Musical Sundowner, November 16 (K200)
DISA Cookbooks with members' tried and trusted recipes from all over the world
Items made by the DISA craft group

We look forward to seeing you there!

Coffee Morning at Mary's September 10, 2019

On a perfect Zambian morning, in the beautiful garden of the Irish Residence, with a table full of sweet and savory potluck treats to enjoy, up to 26 ladies representing 17 (!) nationalities were having a nice time chatting away for a couple of hours.

Once in a while we need to have these moments with no agenda or program. With no other purpose than to get to know each other a bit better. Thank you, Mary, for giving us this opportunity!

And to save the best for last: DISA was happy to welcome three new members, who have recently moved into Lusaka: Greek-Italian Elena, British Deborah and Ukrainian Mariia. We hope you will enjoy your stay in Lusaka and your time in DISA!

Our hostess Mary, standing in the middle

Vietnamese Cooking Class Friday 13 September, 2019

A treat for Picnic - Healthy and Yummy Food

Date: Friday 13 September 2019
Time: 9:30
Dishes: 1. Banh Mi Thit, Vietnamese crunchy flavorful sandwich  2. Water Kefir, a fermented, carbonated beverage  3. Bonus: delicious Belgian waffle

Where: #6, Mulungushi Rd, Roma

Home cook chefs: Nathalie, Vietnamese-French & Chau, Vietnamese-Belgian

Fee: 300K

Participants: max 10  -  It is first come first serve, so to secure your place, be quick to sign up at: disa.activities@gmail.com

What you will get from the course:

1. Starting with enjoying a glass of fresh homemade soy milk.
2. Mastering Banh Mi Thit: You will learn how to prepare 2 kinds of fillings (1) Chicken with chili, lemon leaves and lemon grass (2) Flavorful Thit Xa Xiu: pork marinated in 15 different spices! (3) Learn to make a simple quick pickle (4) A special sauce for Banh Mi Thit. You will have everything in one bite of the Vietnamese Sandwich!
3. Learn to make your own Water Kefir, which is a fermented, carbonated beverage that is not only delicious to drink but also packed with health benefits: Rich in Beneficial Bacteria.
4. A bonus: Baking delicious Belgian Waffles.

If you have never been to Vietnam and VN is not on your travel destination list yet, this is your chance to experience the real Vietnamese food!

Funds raised by the class will be used for DISA charity projects.

Vietnamese Cooking Class September 3, 2019

Tasty - Healthy - Quick Wok Technique!

Chef Chau's cooking class was all about Food for Health from the beginning to the end!

Starting with a detox drink fresh from the garden (not Chau's garden, from Food Lovers garden!)

Working with high quality ingredients and exciting spices to mastering the two famous Vietnamese dishes: 1. Goi Tom Cuon, fresh spring roll  and 2. Bo Luc Lac, shaking beef

Our new member Liz enjoying her Goi Tom Cuon

Bo Luc Lac

The no-beef option

And finally closing the course with a small dessert, coffee and ginger lemon grass tea.

Thank you chef Chau and sous-chef Nathalie for an excellent and enjoyable class & all ladies participating! With your contribution K1300 were raised to be used for our charity projects.

DISA Coffee Morning September 10th, 2019

Dear members,

You are most welcome to our next Coffee Morning, hosted by Mrs. Mary O'Grady

Tuesday, September 10th

Starting at 10 am

Irish Residence, Plot 4901 Los Angeles Boulevard

two gates to the left of entrance to Lusaka Golf Club

Please bring a plate of something sweet or savory to share and enjoy with the coffee/tea, which are provided by our hostess.

You are welcome to bring a friend to this event, which will be about relaxing and discussing with old friends and, hopefully, getting to know some new ones!

Please sign up by Monday 9.9.  at disa.activities@gmail.com  - and let us know if you are bringing a friend as well.

Looking forward to seeing you there!